Chapter 28 Seeing Through
They were separated by only a thin line, their breaths mingling.
Qiao Manqing could still smell the fragrance of Fu Li'an's clothes, mixed with the coolness of the night breeze, making her feel dizzy for a moment.
"other people?"
He leaned close to her ear and whispered a question.
Are you jealous? That's not like you at all.
Qiao Manqing heard that teasing voice explode in her ears, and her ears immediately turned red.
She instinctively took a small step back, her voice slightly flustered.
"Who, who's jealous? I... I'm just reminding you that we're engaged now, so we should abide by each other's rules!"
Fu Li'an looked at the unease on her face.
Then he spoke slowly and somewhat languidly.
"More than that, I'd like to know how you plan to fulfill the agreement you made with the village chief."
Hearing him abruptly change the subject, Qiao Manqing raised an eyebrow and glanced at him, slightly displeased, and said, "So you don't believe in my abilities?"
It's not that I don't believe it.
Fu Lian'an's gaze was calm, his eyes fixed firmly on hers.
"I really don't understand where you got the confidence to sign that promise in public."
Qiao Manqing's eyes darted around, and she suddenly took a bold step closer to him.
The lean was so sudden that the distance between the two was almost only half a palm's width.
Nose to nose, they could even clearly see the frequency of each other's eyelashes fluttering.
She chuckled softly, her tone laced with provocation.
"Comrade Fu, could it be that you're worried about your girlfriend that's why you're asking so many questions?"
Faced with her approach and teasing words, Fu Li'an did not back down, but responded seriously.
"Of course I'm worried. Because you are my lawfully wedded wife, if anything goes wrong—even a minor mishap—I have an obligation to clean up the mess for you."
He paused briefly, his voice softening slightly.
"So, could you please not make such impulsive decisions in the future? Okay?"
Because the days ahead are still very, very long...
He was prepared to face and deal with every problem she might leave behind.
“Comrade Fu Li’an,” Qiao Wanyin frowned and looked at him seriously, “which word or sentence made you think I was bragging? Am I really that unreliable?”
However, faced with such a serious demeanor, Fu Lian was speechless for a moment and could only stare at her in silence.
"You said you know two important people who do business in the south, right?"
He finally spoke up and asked a question.
"Of course!"
Qiao Wanyin nodded in response without hesitation, while raising her chin.
"Who doesn't have capable friends? Does that mean I can't have a few talented friends?"
Despite feeling slightly uneasy, she still spoke with conviction.
"OK."
Fu Li'an's lips twitched slightly without making a sound.
"Then tell me, what are their names, what do they look like, and what are their phone numbers?"
He slowly uttered these words.
Although her reputation wasn't great before, she was bolder and more outgoing than other girls.
Back then, when the neighbors talked about her, they always had some gossip, saying that this girl spoke too impulsively and acted too wildly, not like a traditional girl should be.
Many people shook their heads behind her back, and some even predicted that no one would dare to want her in the future.
But now that she's one of his own, he has a responsibility to help her correct these little flaws.
Now that they are engaged.
He couldn't just stand by and watch her continue to be gossiped about.
Although he didn't say much, he had already made a plan in his heart—to change as much as he could.
For example, in today's incident, Fu Li'an was certain that she was making it all up.
Just as the two of them came out of the brigade headquarters, Qiao Wanyin suddenly told him about something about "two cadres' children chasing after her at the east end of the village," and deliberately looked at his reaction.
Fu Li'an felt increasingly uneasy as he listened. Where did these two kids come from?
She's clearly making things up!
Qiao Manqing felt a little nervous under his gaze. She pretended to be calm on the surface, but in her heart she was already thinking about how to change the subject.
She quickly came up with a solution: "It's no use telling you. You don't know them, so why ask so many questions?"
As she spoke, she casually bent down to straighten the hem of her clothes.
Do you doubt me?
She looked up, blinked, and spoke with a slightly aggrieved tone.
"How can an outstanding young man not trust his girlfriend? That's not fair!"
She deliberately emphasized the phrase "outstanding young man," speaking with a serious tone, and even had a slight smile on her lips, as if she were genuinely disappointed.
"I'm too lazy to argue with you anymore, I need to go back to work!"
He decided to give up and turned to leave.
As soon as she finished speaking, she turned to leave.
He shifted his body slightly, took a few steps, and his back view looked light and carefree.
He had only taken a few steps when he suddenly turned back and added a sentence, his tone unusually serious.
"Did you remember what I just said? Don't go looking for trouble, just stay quietly at the educated youth settlement."
As she spoke, she pointed her finger in front of him, giving him a look that said, "I'm doing this for your own good."
Fu Li'an watched Qiao Wanyin's retreating figure.
For a moment, I felt somewhat dazed.
He stood there, gazing in the direction she had left, his eyes slightly unfocused.
Are they really engaged?
This thought suddenly popped into my head.
Although she knew he was just being used, she was being far too obvious—she blatantly lied and then ran away without even explaining.
Only Qiao Wanyin dares to be so blunt!
"Qiao Wanyin!"
He raised his voice and shouted.
Finally, he couldn't help but call out to her.
Qiao Wanyin had to stop, and before she could even steady herself, she heard hurried footsteps behind her.
Before she could turn around, the tall, muscular man appeared in front of her in a few strides, almost blocking her way.
The sunlight shone on him.
The sunlight slanted down, highlighting his clear features and tall, upright figure.
He exuded an imposing aura.
Fu Lian was much taller than her, and at this moment he lowered his head slightly, staring at her with deep eyes.
Those eyes seemed to be able to see right through people's hearts.
It made her heart flutter for no apparent reason.
She quickly looked away, secretly annoyed.
When did Qiao Wanyin start to be afraid of a man's gaze?
"What are you looking at?"
Qiao Wanyin couldn't help but swallow, her heart skipping a beat for no apparent reason.
Fu Li'an still did not answer her question.
Instead, he silently took half a step forward.
Qiao Wanyin took a half step back almost instinctively.
Before she could react, her back was already pressed against a poplar tree by the roadside, the rough bark sending a slight sensation through her clothes.
The distance between the two suddenly became very close.
Qiao Wanyin could even smell a faint scent of soap emanating from him.
It was the scent of old-fashioned handmade soap, with a slightly crisp aroma, but not pungent.
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